ngamaSirayeli lwalusongelwa ligunya lehlabathi elinamandla, iBhabhiloni. AmaSirayeli ayethembele kwiYiputa ukuze ibangele uxolo. IYiputa yasilela. (Yeremiya 37:5-8; Hezekile 17:11-15) Ngowama-607 B.C.E., imikhosi yaseBhabhiloni yazidiliza iindonga zaseYerusalem yaza yayitshisa itempile kaYehova. Ngaloo ndlela amaSirayeli afumana isifundo esibuhlungu sokuba kulilize ukuthembela ngeentlangano zabantu. Kunokunandipha uxolo, olo hlanga lwathinjelwa eBhabhiloni.—2 Kronike 36:17-21.

 3. Ziziphi iziganeko zembali ezafundisa amaSirayeli isifundo sesibini esibalulekileyo ngoxolo, zizalisekisa amazwi kaYehova awathethwa nguYeremiya?

³ Noko ke, ngaphambi kokoyiswa kweYerusalem, uYehova wayebonise ukuba nguye, kungekhona iYiputa, owayeza kuwazisela uxolo lokwenene amaSirayeli. Esebenzisa uYeremiya wathembisa oku: “Ndibaphilise, ndibatyhilele ukuphuphuma koxolo nenyaniso. Ndiya kukubuyisa ukuthinjwa kukaYuda nokuthinjwa kukaSirayeli, ndibakhe njengokwasekuqaleni.” (Yeremiya 33:6, 7) Isithembiso sikaYehova saqalisa ukuzaliseka ngowama-539 B.C.E. xa iBhabhiloni yoyiswayo baza bakhululwa abathinjwa abangamaSirayeli. (2 Kronike 36:22, 23) Ngasekupheleni kowama-537 B.C.E., iqela lamaSirayeli labhiyozela uMthendeleko Weminquba kwaSirayeli okwesihlandlo sokuqala kwiminyaka engama-70! Emva kwaloo mthendeleko, aqalisa ukuyakha itempile kaYehova kwakhona. Ayevakalelwa njani ngoku? Ingxelo ithi: “Baduma ngodumo olukhulu, bedumisa uYehova ngenxa yokusekwa kwendlu kaYehova.”—Ezra 3:11.

 4. UYehova wawakhuthaza njani amaSirayeli ukuba enze umsebenzi wokwakha itempile, yaye wenza siphi isithembiso ngokuphathelele uxolo?

⁴ Noko ke, emva kweso siqalo sivuyisayo, amaSirayeli adinyazwa ngabachasi aza awuyeka umsebenzi wokwakha itempile. Emva kweminyaka ethile, uYehova wavelisa umprofeti uHagayi noZekariya ukuze bakhuthaze amaSirayeli ukuba agqibezele umsebenzi wokwakha kwakhona. Hayi indlela ekumele ukuba achulumanca ngayo akuva uHagayi esithi ngetempile awayeza kuyakha: “Buya kuba bukhulu ubuqaqawuli bamva bale ndlu, ngaphezu kobokuqala, utsho uYehova wemikhosi; kuyo ke le ndawo ndiya kunika uxolo”!—Hagayi 2:9.

UYehova Uyazizalisekisa Izithembiso Zakhe

 5. Yintoni ephawulekayo ngesahluko sesibhozo sencwadi kaZekariya?

⁵ Kwincwadi yeBhayibhile kaZekariya, sifunda ngemibono neziprofeto ezininzi eziphefumlelweyo ezomeleza abantu bakaThixo emva phayaa ngenkulungwane yesithandathu ngaphambi kweXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo. Ezi ziprofeto zisaqhubeka zisiqinisekisa ukuba uYehova uya kusixhasa. Zisinika izizathu ezininzi zokukholelwa ukuba uYehova uya kubanika uxolo abantu bakhe nanamhlanje. Ngokomzekelo, kwisahluko sesibhozo sencwadi ebizwa ngaye, umprofeti uZekariya uvakalisa la mazwi izihlandlo ezilishumi: ‘Utsho uYehova ukuthi.’ Sihlandlo ngasinye, loo mazwi atshayelela isigidimi sobuthixo esinento yokwenza noxolo lwabantu bakaThixo. Ezinye zezi zithembiso zazalisekiswa emva phayaa ngomhla kaZekariya. Zonke sele zizalisekile okanye ziyazaliseka namhlanje.

‘Ndiya Kuba Nekhwele NgeZiyon’

 6, 7. Kungaziphi iindlela awathi uYehova waba ‘nekhwele nobushushu obukhulu ngenxa yeZiyon’?

⁶ Okwesihlandlo sokuqala la mazwi afumaneka kuZekariya 8:2, apho sifunda oku: “Utsho uYehova wemikhosi ukuthi, [Ndiya kuba nekhwele, NW], ikhwele elikhulu, ngeZiyon; ndinekhwele, ndinobushushu obukhulu ngayo.” Isithembiso sikaYehova sokuba nekhwele, ukuba nenzondelelo enkulu, ngabantu bakhe sasithetha ukuba wayeya kulubuyisela ngokukhawuleza uxolo lwabo. Ukubuyiselwa kwamaSirayeli kwilizwe lawo nokwakhiwa kwetempile kwakhona kwakungqina loo nzondelelo.

⁷ Noko ke, kuthekani ngabo babebachasile abantu bakaYehova? Inzondelelo yakhe ngabantu bakhe yayiya kulingana ‘nobushushu bakhe obukhulu’ ngakwezo ntshaba. Xa amaYuda athembekileyo ayenqula kwitempile ephinde yakhiwa, ayenokucinga ngoko kwakwenzeke kwiBhabhiloni enamandla, eyayoyisiwe ngelo xesha. Ayenokucinga nangokusilela ngokulihlazo kweentshaba ezazizame ukuthintela ukwakhiwa kwakhona kwetempile. (Ezra 4:1-6; 6:3) Yaye ayenokumbulela uYehova ngokuzalisekisa izithembiso zakhe. Inzondelelo yakhe yawenza oyisa!

“Umzi Wenyaniso”

 8. Ngemihla kaZekariya, iYerusalem yayiza kuba nguwo njani umzi wenyaniso ngokwahlukileyo kumaxesha angaphambilana?

⁸ Okwesihlandlo sesibini uZekariya ubhala oku: “Utsho uYehova ukuthi.” Uthini uYehova ngesi sihlandlo? “Ndiyibuyele iZiyon; ndiya kuhlala ke phakathi kweYerusalem, kuthiwe iYerusalem ngumzi wenyaniso; nentaba kaYehova wemikhosi kuthiwe yintaba engcwele.” (Zekariya 8:3) Ngaphambi kowama-607 B.C.E., iYerusalem yayingenguwo umzi wenyaniso kwaphela. Ababingeleli nabaprofeti bayo babenganyanisekanga, yaye abantu bayo babengathembekanga. (Yeremiya 6:13; 7:29-34; 13:23-27) Ngoku abantu bakaThixo babesakha itempile kwakhona, bebonisa ukuzinikela kwabo kunqulo olunyulu. Ngomoya wakhe uYehova waphinda wahlala eYerusalem. Ekubeni iinyaniso zonqulo olunyulu zazithethwa kwakhona eYerusalem, ngoko yayinokubizwa ngokuba “ngumzi wenyaniso.” Indawo ephakamileyo eyayimi kuyo yayinokubizwa ngokuba ‘yintaba kaYehova.’

 9. Yiyiphi inguqulelo emangalisayo eyenzekayo ‘kuSirayeli kaThixo’ ngowe-1919?

⁹ Ngoxa ezi zigidimi zibini zazinentsingiselo kuSirayeli wamandulo, zikwanentsingiselo enkulu kuthi njengoko le nkulungwane yama-20 isondela ekupheleni. Malunga neminyaka engama-80 eyadlulayo, ebudeni bemfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala, amawaka ambalwa abathanjiswa ababemela ‘uSirayeli kaThixo’ aba sekuthinjweni ngokomoya, kanye njengokuba uSirayeli wamandulo wathinjelwa eBhabhiloni. (Galati 6:16) Kwiziprofeto, achazwa njengezidumbu ezilele esitratweni. Sekunjalo, ayekunqwenela ngokwenene ukunqula uYehova “ngomoya nangenyaniso.” (Yohane 4:24) Ngenxa yoko, ngowe-1919, uYehova wawakhulula ekuthinjweni, ewavusa kwimeko yawo yokufa ngokomoya. (ISityhilelo 11:7-13) Ngaloo ndlela uYehova wawuphendula ngo-Ewe onamandla umbuzo kaIsaya ongokwesiprofeto: “Kuya kuzalwa ilizwe ngamininye na? Kuzalwa uhlanga ngasihlandlo sinye na?” (Isaya 66:8) Ngowe-1919, abantu bakaYehova babuyela ‘kwilizwe’ labo okanye kummandla wabo wokomoya osemhlabeni njengohlanga lokomoya.

10. Ukususela ngowe-1919, ziziphi iintsikelelo ebezinanditshwa ngamaKristu athanjisiweyo ‘kwilizwe’ lawo?

¹⁰ Ekhuselekile kwelo lizwe, amaKristu athanjisiweyo aqhubeka ekhonza kwitempile kaYehova enkulu yokomoya. Amiselwa ‘njengomkhonzi othembekileyo noqondayo,’ esamkela imbopheleleko yokunyamekela impahla kaYesu esemhlabeni, ilungelo asaqhubeka elinandipha njengoko le nkulungwane yama-20 isondela ekupheleni. (Mateyu 24:45-47) Afumana isifundo esihle sokuba uYehova ‘nguThixo woxolo.’—1 Tesalonika 5:23.

11. Iinkokeli zonqulo zeNgqobhoko zibonise njani ukuba ziziintshaba zabantu bakaThixo?

¹¹ Noko ke, kuthekani ngeentshaba zoSirayeli kaThixo? Inzondelelo kaYehova ngabantu bakhe iyalingana nobushushu bakhe ngakwabo babachasayo. Ebudeni bemfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala, iinkokeli zonqulo zeNgqobhoko zabangela uxinezeleko olungathethekiyo njengoko zazizama—kodwa azaphumelela—ukutshayela elo qela lincinane lamaKristu athetha inyaniso. Ebudeni bemfazwe yehlabathi yesibini, abefundisi beNgqobhoko bamanyaniswa yinto enye kuphela: Macala omabini emfazwe, babebongoza oorhulumente ukuba bacinezele amaNgqina kaYehova. Nanamhlanje, kumazwe amaninzi iinkokeli zonqulo ziphembelela oorhulumente ukuba bawubekele imiqathango okanye bawuvale umsebenzi wamaKristu wokushumayela owenziwa ngamaNgqina kaYehova.

12, 13. UYehova ububonakalise njani ubushushu bakhe kwiNgqobhoko?

¹² UYehova uyakubona konke oku. Emva kwemfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala, iNgqobhoko, kunye nayo yonke iBhabhiloni Enkulu, yawa. (ISityhilelo 14:8) Isibakala sokuwa kweNgqobhoko saye saziwa nanguthathatha ukususela ngowe-1922, xa kwadluliselwa ungcelele lwezibetho zokomfuziselo, ezayibhenca ekuhleni imeko yayo yokufa ngokomoya yaye zilumkisa ngentshabalalo yayo ezayo. (ISityhilelo 8:7–9:21) Njengobungqina bokuba ezi zibetho zisadluliselwa namhlanje, intetho ethi “Isiphelo Sonqulo Lobuxoki Sisondele” yanikelwa ehlabathini lonke ngoAprili 23, 1995, yaza yalandelwa kukusasazwa kwamakhulu ezigidi zemibhalo yenkupho ekhethekileyo yephecana i-Kingdom News.

¹³ Namhlanje, iNgqobhoko ikwimeko elusizi. Ebudeni bale nkulungwane yama-20, amalungu ayo aye abulalana kwiimfazwe ezimbi ezisikelelwe ngabefundisi bayo. Kwamanye amazwe impembelelo yayo iphelile. Intshabalalo yayo nayo yonke iBhabhiloni Enkulu ayibuyi mva.—ISityhilelo 18:21.

Uxolo Lwabantu BakaYehova

14. Ngawaphi amazwi esiprofeto achaza abantu abaseluxolweni?

¹⁴ Kwelinye icala, kulo nyaka we-1996, abantu bakaYehova banandipha intabalala yoxolo kwilizwe labo elibuyiselweyo, njengoko kuchazwa sisigidimi sikaYehova sesithathu: “Utsho uYehova wemikhosi ukuthi, Kusaya kuhlala amadoda amakhulu neentokazi ezinkulu ezitratweni zaseYerusalem, elowo ephethe umsimelelo wakhe ngesandla, ngenxa yobudala babo; zizale izitrato zomzi ngamakhwenkwe namantombazana, edlala ezitratweni zawo.”—Zekariya 8:4, 5.

15. Phezu kwazo nje iimfazwe zeentlanga, luluphi uxolo ebelunanditshwa ngabakhonzi bakaYehova?

¹⁵ La mazwi amnandi asenzela umfanekiso ongaqhelekanga kweli hlabathi lidlavulwe ziimfazwe—abantu abaseluxolweni. Ukususela ngowe-1919, amazwi esiprofeto sikaIsaya ebezaliseka: “Uxolo, uxolo malubekho kwabakude nakwabakufuphi, ndibaphilise. . . . Alukho uxolo kwabangendawo, utsho uThixo wam.” (Isaya 57:19-21) Kakade ke, abantu bakaYehova, ngoxa bengeyonxalenye yehlabathi, abanakukuphepha ukuchatshazelwa yingxushungxushu yeentlanga. (Yohane 17:15, 16) Kwamanye amazwe, banyamezela ubunzima obuqatha, yaye abambalwa bade babulawa. Sekunjalo, amaKristu okwenene ngokuyintloko anoxolo ngeendlela ezimbini. Okokuqala, ‘anoxolo kuThixo ngayo iNkosi yawo uYesu Kristu.’ (Roma 5:1) Okwesibini, anoxolo phakathi kwawo. Ahlakulela “ubulumko baphezulu,” bona “ukuqala bunyulu, buze bube boboxolo.” (Yakobi 3:17; Galati 5:22-24) Ngaphezu koko, akhangele phambili ekunandipheni uxolo ngeyona ngqiqo ipheleleyo xa “abalulamileyo [beya] kulidla ilifa ilizwe, baziyolise ngobuninzi boxolo.”—INdumiso 37:11.

16, 17. (a) “Amadoda amakhulu neentokazi ezinkulu” kuquka ‘namakhwenkwe namantombazana’ ayomeleze njani intlangano kaYehova? (b) Yintoni ebonisa ukuba abantu bakaYehova banoxolo?

¹⁶ Kusekho “amadoda amakhulu neentokazi ezinkulu” phakathi kwabantu bakaYehova, abathanjiswa abasalukhumbulayo uloyiso lwantlandlolo lwentlangano kaYehova. Ukuthembeka nokunyamezela kwabo kuxatyiswa gqitha. Abathanjiswa ababeselula bathabatha ukhokelo ebudeni bemihla enzima yeminyaka yee-1930, neyeMfazwe yeHlabathi II, kwanasebudeni beminyaka echulumancisayo yolwando olwabakho kamva. Ngokubhekele phayaa, ngokukodwa ukususela ngowe-1935, “isihlwele esikhulu” ‘sezinye izimvu’ siye sazibonakalisa. (ISityhilelo 7:9; Yohane 10:16) Njengoko amaKristu athanjisiweyo esaluphala yaye inani lawo lincipha, ezinye izimvu ziye zawusekela ngamandla umsebenzi wokushumayela zaza zawunabisela emhlabeni wonke. Kwiminyaka yakutshanje, ezinye izimvu bezithontelana kwilizwe labantu bakaThixo. Kunyaka ophelileyo kuphela, ama-338 491 azo aye abhaptizwa efuzisela uzahlulelo lwawo kuYehova! Abatsha abanjalo baselula ngenene, ngokomoya. Ihlombe nokukhuthala kwabo kuyaxatyiswa njengoko besandisa izintlu zabo bavuma iindumiso zombulelo “kuye uThixo wethu, lowo uhleli phezu kwetrone, nakuyo iMvana!”—ISityhilelo 7:10.

¹⁷ Namhlanje, ‘izitrato zizele ngamakhwenkwe namantombazana,’ amaNgqina anamandla obutsha. Kunyaka wenkonzo we-1995, kuye kwafunyanwa iingxelo ezivela kumazwe neziqithi zolwandle angama-232. Kodwa akukho sukuzwano phakathi kwezizwe ngezizwe, intiyo phakathi kweentlanga, ikhwele elingafanelekanga, phakathi kwabathanjiswa nezinye izimvu. Bonke bakhula kunye ngokomoya, bamanyene eluthandweni. NgamaNgqina kaYehova kuphela anobuzalwana bazwenibanzi ehlabathini lonke.—Kolose 3:14; 1 Petros 2:17.

Ngaba Kwakunzima Gqitha KuYehova?

18, 19. Kwiminyaka esusela kowe-1919, uYehova ukuphumeze njani obekusenokubonakala kungenakwenzeka ngokwembono yomntu?

¹⁸ Emva phayaa ngowe-1918 xa intsalela ethanjisiweyo yayibunjwe ngamawaka ambalwa abantu abadimazekileyo ababesekuthinjweni ngokomoya, akukho namnye owayekwazi okwakuza kwenzeka. Ukanti, uYehova wayesazi—njengoko kuboniswa sisigidimi sakhe sesine esingokwesiprofeto: “Utsho uYehova wemikhosi ukuthi, Ukuba kuyinto [ebonakala inzima gqitha] emehlweni amasalela aba bantu ngaloo mihla, kuya kuba yinto [ebonakala inzima gqitha] yini na nasemehlweni am? utsho uYehova wemikhosi.”—Zekariya 8:6, thelekisa iNW.

¹⁹ Ngowe-1919, umoya kaYehova wabahlaziya abantu bakhe ukuze balungele umsebenzi owawungaphambili. Sekunjalo, kwakufuna ukholo ukubambelela ngokuqinileyo kwintlangano encinane yabanquli bakaYehova. Babembalwa kunene, yaye izinto ezininzi zazingacacanga. Noko ke, ngokuthe ngcembe uYehova wabomeleza njengentlangano waza wabaxhobisela ukwenza umsebenzi wamaKristu wokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo nokwenza abafundi. (Isaya 60:17, 19; Mateyu 24:14; 28:19, 20) Ngokuthe ngcembe, wabanceda bayiqonda imibandela ebalulekileyo enjengobundilele nolongamo lwendalo iphela. Ngaba kwakunzima gqitha kuYehova ukuphumeza ukuthanda kwakhe esebenzisa elo qela lincinane lamaNgqina? Ngokuqinisekileyo impendulo nguhayi! Oku kunokubonwa kwiphepha 12 ukuya kwele-15 leli phephancwadi, elibonisa isicangca somsebenzi wamaNgqina kaYehova wonyaka wenkonzo we-1995.

“Ndibe NguThixo Wabo”

20. Isiprofeto sibonisa ukuba wawuza kuba ngakanani umsebenzi wokuhlanganisa abantu bakaThixo?

²⁰ Isigidimi sesihlanu silubonisa ngokubhekele phaya uvuyo olunanditshwa ngamaNgqina kaYehova namhlanje: “Utsho uYehova wemikhosi ukuthi, Yabonani, ndiya kubasindisa abantu bam elizweni lokuphuma kwelanga, naselizweni lokutshona kwalo. Ndobazisa, bahlale phakathi kweYerusalem, babe ngabantu bam, ndibe nguThixo wabo, ngenyaniso nangobulungisa.”—Zekariya 8:7, 8.

21. Luye lwalondolozwa lwaza lwandiswa njani uxolo oluyintabalala lwabantu bakaYehova?

²¹ Ngowe-1996 ngaphandle kwamathandabuzo sinokuthi iindaba ezilungileyo zishunyayelwe ehlabathini lonke, ukususela “elizweni lokuphuma kwelanga” ukusa “elizweni lokutshona kwalo.” Abantu bazo zonke iintlanga baye benziwa abafundi, yaye basibonile sizaliseka isithembiso sikaYehova esithi: “Bonke abantwana bakho baya kuba ngabafundi bakaYehova, lube lukhulu uxolo lwabantwana bakho.” (Isaya 54:13) Siseluxolweni kuba sifundiswa nguYehova. Ngenxa yeso sizathu, kuye kwapapashwa uncwadi ngeelwimi ezingaphezu kwama-300. Kunyaka ophelileyo kuphela, kongezelelwe iilwimi ezingama-21. Iphephancwadi IMboniselo lipapashwa ngaxeshanye ngeelwimi ezili-111 ngoku, yaye uVukani! ngezingama-54. Iindibano zasekuhlaleni nezezizwe ngezizwe zenza lubonwe ngumntu wonke uxolo lwabantu bakaThixo. Iintlanganiso zeeveki ngeeveki ziyasimanyanisa yaye zisinika ukhuthazo olufunekayo ukuze sihlale somelele. (Hebhere 10:23-25) Ewe, uYehova ufundisa abantu bakhe “ngenyaniso nangobulungisa.” Ubanika uxolo abantu bakhe. Hayi indlela esisikeleleke ngayo ngokuxhamla olo xolo luyintabalala!

“Thandani Inyaniso Noxolo”!

“Kwafika ilizwi likaYehova wemikhosi kum, lisithi, . . . Thandani inyaniso noxolo.”—ZEKARIYA 8:18, 19.

 1, 2. (a) Iqulethe ntoni ingxelo yoluntu ngokuphathelele uxolo? (b) Kutheni lungasayi kuze lubekho uxolo lokwenene kweli hlabathi?

“UXOLO aluzange lubekho ehlabathini. Ndaweni ithile—yaye ngokufuthi kwiindawo ezininzi ngaxeshanye—kusoloko kukho imfazwe.” Watsho njalo uNjingalwazi Milton Mayer weUniversity of Massachusetts, eUnited States. Enjani yona ukubang’ usizi indlela yokuchaza uluntu! Liyinyaniso elokuba, abantu bebelufuna uxolo. Abameli bezobupolitika bazame zonke iindlela zokululondoloza, ukususela kwiPax Romana yamaxesha amaRoma ukusa kumgaqo owawubizwa ngokuthi “Intshabalalo Eqinisekiswe Macala” ebudeni beMfazwe Yomlomo. Noko ke, yonke imigudu yabo ayizange iphumelele. Kunjengokuba uIsaya watshoyo kwiinkulungwane ezininzi ezadlulayo, “abathunywa boxolo balila ngokukrakra.” (Isaya 33:7) Kubangelwa yintoni oku?

² Kungenxa yokuba uxolo oluhlala luhleli lumele luphume kumthombo ongenayo intiyo nokubawa; lumele lusekelwe kwinyaniso. Uxolo alunakusekelwa kubuxoki. Kungenxa yoko uYehova wathi xa wayethembisa uSirayeli wamandulo ngokumhlaziya nangoxolo: “Yabonani, ndisingisa uxolo kuyo njengomlambo, nozuko lweentlanga njengesihlambo esikhukulayo.” (Isaya 66:12) Uthixo wale nkqubo yezinto, uSathana uMtyholi, “sisibulala-mntu,” umbulali, yaye “ulixoki, noyise wawo.” (Yohane 8:44; 2 Korinte 4:4) Ihlabathi elinothixo onjalo linokuze libe nalo njani uxolo?

 3. Sisiphi isipho esimangalisayo uYehova asiphe abantu bakhe, nakuba bephila kwihlabathi elizaliswe ziinkathazo?

³ Noko ke, okumangalisayo kukuba, uYehova ubanika uxolo abantu bakhe kwanangoxa bephila kwihlabathi likaSathana elidlavulwe ziimfazwe. (Yohane 17:16) Ngenkulungwane yesithandathu ngaphambi kweXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo, wasizalisekisa isithembiso sakhe esebenzisa uYeremiya waza walupha “uxolo nenyaniso” uhlanga lwakhe olukhethekileyo xa walubuyisela kwilizwe lalo. (Yeremiya 33:6) Yaye kule mihla yokugqibela, ubanike “uxolo nenyaniso” abantu bakhe ‘abakwilizwe’ labo, okanye kummandla wabo wokomoya osemhlabeni, nakuba beye batyhubela ixesha elinzima ngendlela engazange ibonwe kweli hlabathi ukuza kuthi ga ngoku. (Isaya 66:8; Mateyu 24:7-13; ISityhilelo 6:1-8) Njengoko siqhubeka nengxubusho yethu kaZekariya isahluko 8, siza kuluqonda ngakumbi olu xolo nenyaniso evela kuThixo size sibone ukuba ziintoni esimele sizenze ukuze sihlale silunandipha.

“Izandla Zenu Mazomelele”

 4. UZekariya wawakhuthaza ukuba enze ntoni amaSirayeli ukuze afumane uxolo?

⁴ Okwesihlandlo sesithandathu kuZekariya isahluko 8, siva isigidimi esichulumancisayo esivela kuYehova: “Utsho uYehova wemikhosi ukuthi, Izandla zenu mazomelele, nina bawevayo la mazwi ngale mihla, ephuma emlonyeni wabaprofeti, ababekho mhlenikweni yasekwayo indlu kaYehova wemikhosi, itempile, ukuze yakhiwe. Ngokuba phambi kwaloo mihla bekungekho mvuzo wabantu, nomvuzo weenkomo ubungekho; nophumayo nongenayo ebengenaluxolo, ngenxa yombandezeli. Ndabenza bonke ukuba umntu achasane nommelwane wakhe.”—Zekariya 8:9, 10.

 5, 6. (a) Yaba njani imeko kwaSirayeli, ngenxa yokudimazeka kwamaSirayeli? (b) UYehova wawathembisa yiphi inguqulelo amaSirayeli ukuba ayebeka unqulo lwakhe kwindawo yokuqala?

⁵ UZekariya wawathetha la mazwi ngoxa kwakuphindwa kusakhiwa itempile eYerusalem. Ngaphambili, amaSirayeli awayebuye evela eBhabhiloni adimazeka aza awuyeka umsebenzi wokwakha itempile. Ngenxa yokukhathalela ukuphila kwawo tofotofo, uYehova akazange awasikelele aze awanike uxolo. Nangona ayelima yaye ezinyamekela izidiliya zawo, akazange afumane siqhamo. (Hagayi 1:3-6) Kwakubonakala ngathi ayesebenza aze ‘angafumani mvuzo.’

⁶ Ngoku ekubeni itempile yayisakhiwa kwakhona, uZekariya wawakhuthaza amaYuda ukuba “omelele,” ngenkalipho abeke unqulo lukaYehova kwindawo yokuqala. Kwakuza kwenzeka ntoni xa enze njalo? “Ngoku ke andiyi kuba njengokwemihla yamandulo kumasalela aba bantu; utsho uYehova wemikhosi. Kobakho imbewu yoxolo; umdiliya wonika isiqhamo sawo, nelizwe linike indyebo yalo, nezulu linike umbethe walo; zonke ezo zinto ndizidlise ilifa amasalela abantu. Kothi, njengoko benilutshabhiso ezintlangeni, ndlu kaYuda, nani ndlu kaSirayeli, ndenjenjalo ukunisindisa, nibe yintsikelelo; musani ukoyika, mazomelele izandla zenu.” (Zekariya 8:11-13) Ukuba uSirayeli wayesebenza ngokuzimisela, wayeya kuphumelela. Ngaphambilana, xa iintlanga zazifuna ukwenza umzekelo woko sikuko isiqalekiso, zazinokwalatha kuSirayeli. Ngoku uSirayeli wayeza kuba ngumzekelo wentsikelelo. Esinjani sona ukuba sihle isizathu ‘sokomeleza izandla zabo’!

 7. (a) Ziziphi iinguqulelo ezichulumancisayo eziye zafunyanwa ngabantu bakaYehova, ukuza kuthi ga kunyaka wenkonzo we-1995? (b) Xa ukhangela ingxelo yonyaka, ngawaphi amazwe obona ukuba anengxelo entle yabavakalisi, oovulindlela nesilinganiso seeyure?

⁷ Kuthekani namhlanje? Kwiminyaka yangaphambi kowe-1919, ngandlel’ ithile abantu bakaYehova babengenayo kangako inzondelelo. Abazange babe ngoondilele ngokupheleleyo kwimfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala, yaye babenotyekelo lokulandela umntu kunokulandela uKumkani wabo, uYesu Kristu. Ngenxa yoko, bambi badinyazwa yinkcaso eyayivela ngaphakathi nangaphandle kwentlangano. Ngoko, ngowe-1919, ngoncedo lukaYehova izandla zabo zomelezwa. (Zekariya 4:6) UYehova wabanika uxolo, yaye baphumelela gqitha. Oku kunokubonwa kwingxelo yabo yeminyaka engama-75 edlulileyo, ukuza kuthi ga kunyaka wenkonzo we-1995. Njengeqela labantu, amaNgqina kaYehova ayabuphepha ubuhlanga, ubuzwe, ikhethe, nabo bonke abanye oonobangela bentiyo. (1 Yohane 3:14-18) Akhonza uYehova ngenzondelelo esuka entliziyweni kwitempile yakhe yokomoya. (Hebhere 13:15; ISityhilelo 7:15) Kunyaka ophelileyo kuphela, achithe ngaphezu kwewaka lesigidi seeyure ethetha nabanye ngoYise wasezulwini! Nyanga nganye, ebeqhuba izifundo zeBhayibhile ezizi-4 865 060. Ngokwesilinganiso, ama-663 521 aba nesabelo kwinkonzo yobuvulindlela nyanga nganye. Xa abefundisi beNgqobhoko befuna ukunikela umzekelo wabantu ababonisa ihlombe lokwenene kunqulo lwabo, maxa wambi balatha kumaNgqina kaYehova.

 8. AmaKristu anokungenelwa njani ngokobuqu ‘kwimbewu yoxolo’?

⁸ Ngenxa yenzondelelo yabo, uYehova ubanika “imbewu yoxolo” abantu bakhe. Mntu ngamnye oyihlakulelayo loo mbewu uya kubona uxolo lukhula entliziyweni yakhe nasebomini bakhe. Wonke umKristu okholwayo ofuna ukuba seluxolweni noYehova namanye amaKristu unesabelo kwinyaniso noxolo lwabantu ababizwa ngegama likaYehova. (1 Petros 3:11; thelekisa uYakobi 3:18.) Ngaba oko akuchulumancisi?

“Musani Ukoyika”

 9. UYehova wathembisa ukuba wayeza kwenza yiphi inguqulelo kwindlela awayeqhubana ngayo nabantu bakhe?

⁹ Ngoku sifunda isigidimi sesixhenxe esivela kuYehova. Sithini? “Utsho uYehova wemikhosi ukuthi, Njengoko ndankqangiyelayo ukwenza ububi kuni, oko ooyihlo bandenza ndaba noburhalarhume, utsho uYehova wemikhosi, andazohlwaya ke: ngokunjalo ndibuye ndankqangiyela ngale mihla ukwenza okulungileyo kwiYerusalem, nakwindlu kaYuda; musani ukoyika.”—Zekariya 8:14, 15.

10. Bubuphi ubungqina obubonisa ukuba amaNgqina kaYehova akakhange oyike?

¹⁰ Nakuba abantu bakaYehova babechithachithekile ngengqiqo yokomoya ebudeni bemfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala, ezintliziyweni zabo babefuna ukwenza okulungileyo. Ngoko, emva kokubohlwaya, uYehova, waqhubana nabo ngendlela eyahlukileyo. (Malaki 3:2-4) Namhlanje, xa sikhangela emva simbulela ngeentliziyo ezipheleleyo ngoko akwenzileyo. Liyinene elokuba, siye ‘sathiywa ziintlanga zonke.’ (Mateyu 24:9) Abaninzi baye bavalelwa ezintolongweni, yaye abanye bade bafa ngenxa yokholo lwabo. Ngokufuthi sijamelana nokuphathwa kakubi okanye inkcaso. Kodwa asoyiki. Siyazi ukuba uYehova unamandla kunayo nayiphi na inkcaso, ebonakalayo okanye engabonakaliyo. (Isaya 40:15; Efese 6:10-13) Asisayi kuyeka ukulandela amazwi athi: “Thembela kuYehova; yomelela, ikhaliphe intliziyo yakho.”—INdumiso 27:14.

“Thethani Inyaniso Elowo Kummelwane Wakhe”

11, 12. Yintoni esifanele siyikhumbule ukuba sifuna ukuzixhamla ngokuzeleyo iintsikelelo uYehova azinika abantu bakhe?

¹¹ Ukuze sizixhamle ngokuzeleyo iintsikelelo ezivela kuYehova, kukho izinto ekufuneka sizikhumbule. UZekariya uthi: “Nanzi iindawo enothi nizenze zona: Thethani inyaniso elowo kummelwane wakhe; gwebani ngenyaniso nangesigwebo soxolo emasangweni enu. Musani ukucinga okubi, elowo ngommelwane wakhe entliziyweni yakhe; ningathandi ukufunga ngobuxoki; ngokuba konke oko; koko ndikuthiyileyo; utsho uYehova.”—Zekariya 8:16, 17.

¹² UYehova usibongoza ukuba sithethe inyaniso. (Efese 4:15, 25) Akayiphulaphuli imithandazo yabo baceba ukwenzakalisa abanye, abafihla inyaniso ngenxa yokuzingca, okanye abafunga ubuxoki. (IMizekeliso 28:9) Ekubeni eluthiyile uwexuko, ufuna sibambelele kwinyaniso yeBhayibhile. (INdumiso 25:5; 2 Yohane 9-11) Ngaphezu koko, njengamadoda amakhulu awayehlala kumasango esixeko kwaSirayeli, abadala abakwikomiti egwebayo bafanele bazisekele kwiinyaniso zeBhayibhile iziluleko nezigqibo zabo, kungekhona kwiingcamango zobuqu. (Yohane 17:17) UYehova ufuna ukuba bafune ‘isigwebo soxolo,’ njengabalusi abangamaKristu, bazame ukubuyisela uxolo phakathi kwemihlambi eyalanayo nokunceda aboni abaguqukayo baxolelane noThixo kwakhona. (Yakobi 5:14, 15; Yuda 23) Kwangaxeshanye, balondoloza uxolo phakathi kwebandla, ngokubagxotha ngenkalipho abo baphazamisa olo xolo ngokuqhubeka besenza ububi ngabom.—1 Korinte 6:9, 10.

“Imihlali, Nemivuyo”

13. (a) Ziziphi iinguqulelo eziphathelele ukuzila ukudla awaprofeta ngazo uZekariya? (b) Kukuphi ukuzila ukudla okwakusenziwa kwaSirayeli?

¹³ Ngoku, siva isigidimi esibalulekileyo sesibhozo: “Utsho uYehova wemikhosi ukuthi, Uzilo lweyesine inyanga, nozilo lweyesihlanu, nozilo lweyesixhenxe, nozilo lweyeshumi, luya kuba yimihlali, nemivuyo, namaxesha amisiweyo okuchwayitha, kwindlu kaYuda; ke thandani inyaniso noxolo.” (Zekariya 8:19) Ngaphantsi koMthetho kaMoses, amaSirayeli ayezila ukudla ngoMhla Wocamagusho ebonakalisa ukuba buhlungu ngezono zawo. (Levitikus 16:29-31) Kubonakala ukuba ukuzila ukudla izihlandlo ezine okuchazwa nguZekariya, kwakusenziwa ukuzilela iziganeko ezibuhlungu ezinokuthanani nokoyiswa nokutshatyalaliswa kweYerusalem. (2 Kumkani 25:1-4, 8, 9, 22-26) Noko ke, itempile yayisakhiwa kwakhona ngelo xesha yaye iYerusalem yayisiba nabemi kwakhona. Ukuzila kwakuthatyathelw’ indawo yimivuyo, yaye ukuzila ukudla kwakunokuba ngamaxesha okuchwayita.

14, 15. (a) ISikhumbuzo sasikubangela njani ukuvuya okukhulu, yaye kufanele kusikhumbuze ntoni oku? (b) Ngokutsho kwengxelo yonyaka, ngawaphi amazwe anengxelo ebalaseleyo yababekho kwiSikhumbuzo?

¹⁴ Namhlanje, asikwenzi ukuzila ukudla okukhankanywe nguZekariya okanye ukuzila ukudla okwakufuneka phantsi koMthetho. Ekubeni uYesu wanikela ubomi bakhe ngenxa yezono zethu, sinandipha iintsikelelo zoMhla Wocamagusho omkhulu ngakumbi. Izono zethu zigutyungelwa, kungekhona nje ngokuyinxenye, kodwa ngokupheleleyo. (Hebhere 9:6-14) Silandela umyalelo woMbingeleli Omkhulu wasezulwini, uYesu Kristu, senza iSikhumbuzo sokufa kwakhe njengekuphela kwesihlandlo sonqulo esisikhumbulayo kwikhalenda yamaKristu. (Luka 22:19, 20) Ngaba asibi ‘nemihlali yaye sivuye’ xa sihlanganisana kunye nyaka ngamnye ebudeni beso sikhumbuzo?

¹⁵ Kunyaka ophelileyo, izi-13 147 201 zazihlanganisene ukuze zenze iSikhumbuzo, kwakuze ama-858 284 angakumbi kunowe-1994. Enjani yona indimbane! Yiba nomfanekiso-ngqondweni wovuyo olwalukho kumabandla amaNgqina kaYehova angama-78 620 njengoko abantu abaninzi ngokungaqhelekanga babethontelana kwiiHolo zoBukumkani ukuze benze esi sikhumbuzo. Ngokuqinisekileyo, bonke ababekho bashukunyiselwa ukuba “bathande inyaniso noxolo” njengoko bekhumbula ukufa kwaLowo ‘uyindlela, inyaniso nobomi’ nolawulayo ngoku ‘njengoMthetheli Woxolo’ omkhulu kaYehova! (Yohane 14:6; Isaya 9:6) Eso sikhumbuzo sasinentsingiselo ekhethekileyo kwabo babesenza kumazwe athwaxwa ngumbhodamo neemfazwe. Bambi kubazalwana bethu baye bafumana ubuhlungu obungathethekiyo ebudeni bowe-1995. Sekunjalo, ‘uxolo lukaThixo, olugqithisele kuko konke ukuqonda, luye lwazigcina iintliziyo zabo neengqiqo zabo kuKristu Yesu.’—Filipi 4:7.

‘Masimbongoze UYehova’

16, 17. Abantu bazo zonke iintlanga ‘banokumbongoza njani uYehova’?

¹⁶ Noko ke, zazivela phi ezo zigidi zazikho kwiSikhumbuzo? Isigidimi sikaYehova sesithoba siyachaza: “Utsho uYehova wemikhosi ukuthi, Kusaya kuza izizwe, nabemi bemizi emininzi. Baya kuhamba abemi bomnye baye komnye, bathi, Masihambe siye kumbongoza uYehova, simquqele uYehova wemikhosi; bathi abo, Siya kuhamba nathi. Izizwe ezininzi neentlanga ezinamandla ziya kuza kumquqela uYehova wemikhosi eYerusalem, zimbongoze uYehova.”—Zekariya 8:20-22.

¹⁷ Abantu abebekho kwiSikhumbuzo babefuna ‘ukumquqela uYehova wemikhosi.’ Inkoliso yabo ibingabakhonzi bakhe abazahluleleyo nababhaptiziweyo. Ezinye izigidi ebezikho bezingekalifikeleli elo nqanaba. Kwamanye amazwe, inani labebekho kwiSikhumbuzo beliliphinda kane okanye kahlanu inani labavakalisi boBukumkani. Le nyambalala yabanomdla ifuna ukuncedwa ukuze iqhubeke isenza inkqubela. Masibafundise ukuluxabisa ulwazi lokuba uYesu wafela izono zethu yaye ngoku ulawula kuBukumkani bukaThixo. (1 Korinte 5:7, 8; ISityhilelo 11:15) Yaye masibakhuthaze ukuba bazahlulele kuYehova uThixo yaye bazithobe kuKumkani wakhe ammisileyo. Ngokwenza njalo baya kuba ‘babongoza uYehova.’—INdumiso 116:18, 19; Filipi 2:12, 13.

“Amadoda Alishumi Asezilwimini Zonke Zeentlanga”

18, 19. (a) Njengenzaliseko kaZekariya 8:23, ngubani omela “umYuda” namhlanje? (b) Ngoobani namhlanje abamela “amadoda alishumi” athi “abambe esondweni lengubo yendoda engumYuda”?

¹⁸ Okwesihlandlo sokugqibela kwisahluko sesibhozo kwekaZekariya, sifunda oku: “Utsho uYehova wemikhosi ukuthi.” Sithini isigidimi sikaYehova sokugqibela? “Ngezo mini aya kuthi abambe amadoda alishumi asezilwimini zonke zeentlanga, abambe esondweni lengubo yendoda engumYuda, athi, Siya kuhamba nani, ngokuba sivile ukuba uThixo unani.” (Zekariya 8:23) Ngomhla kaZekariya, uSirayeli wokwemvelo wayeluhlanga lukaThixo olunyuliweyo. Noko ke, ngenkulungwane yokuqala, uSirayeli wamchasa uMesiya kaYehova. Ngenxa yoko, uThixo wethu wanyula “umYuda”—uSirayeli omtsha—njengabantu bakhe abakhethekileyo, ‘uSirayeli kaThixo’ obunjwe ngamaYuda okomoya. (Galati 6:16; Yohane 1:11; Roma 2:28, 29) Inani lawo elipheleleyo laliza kuba li-144 000, elikhethwe eluntwini ukuze lilawule noYesu kuBukumkani bakhe basezulwini.—ISityhilelo 14:1, 4.

¹⁹ Inkoliso yabo bayila i-144 000 sele ife ithembekile yaza yaya kufumana umvuzo wayo wasezulwini. (1 Korinte 15:51, 52; ISityhilelo 6:9-11) Iqaqobana lisasele apha emhlabeni yaye liyakuvuyela ukubona ukuba “amadoda alishumi” akhetha ukulandela “umYuda” ngenene ‘asisihlwele esikhulu esiphuma kuzo zonke iintlanga, nezizwe, nabantu neelwimi.’—ISityhilelo 7:9; Isaya 2:2, 3; 60:4-10, 22.

20, 21. Ekubeni isiphelo seli hlabathi sisondela, sinokuhlala njani siseluxolweni noYehova?

²⁰ Njengoko isiphelo seli hlabathi singabuyi mva, iNgqobhoko ifana neYerusalem ngemihla kaYeremiya: “Sithembe uxolo, akwabakho nto ilungileyo; sithembe ixesha lokuphiliswa, nanko ikukudandatheka.” (Yeremiya 14:19) Olo dandatheko luya kufikelela incopho xa iintlanga zijikela unqulo lobuxoki zize zilutshabalalise ngenkohlakalo. Ngokukhawuleza emva koko, iintlanga ziya kutshatyalaliswa kwimfazwe kaThixo yokugqibela, iArmagedon. (Mateyu 24:29, 30; ISityhilelo 16:14, 16; 17:16-18; 19:11-21) Esinjani sona isaqunge esiya kubakho ngelo xesha!

²¹ Kuko konke oko, uYehova uya kubakhusela abo bayithandayo inyaniso nabahlakulela “imbewu yoxolo.” (Zekariya 8:12; Zefaniya 2:3) Ngoko, masihlale kwilizwe labantu bakhe size sikhuseleke, simdumisa ekuhleni ngenzondelelo yaye sinceda abaninzi kangangoko kunokwenzeka ‘babongoze uYehova.’ Ukuba senjenjalo, siya kuhlala siseluxolweni noYehova. Ewe, “uYehova uya kubanika abantu bakhe amandla; uYehova uya kubasikelela abantu bakhe ngoxolo.”—INdumiso 29:11.

Ngaba Ungacacisa?

◻ Abantu bakaThixo ‘bazomeleza njani izandla zabo’ ngomhla kaZekariya? Bazomeleza njani namhlanje?

◻ Sisabela njani kwintshutshiso, kwinkcaso nokuphathwa kakubi?

◻ Yintoni ebandakanyekileyo ‘ekuthetheni kwethu inyaniso elowo nommelwane wakhe’?

◻ Umntu ‘unokumbongoza njani uYehova’?

◻ Sisiphi isizathu esibalulekileyo sokuvuya ngokuzaliseka kukaZekariya 8:23?